Outline

Introduction: The hyperplasia of the inferior turbinate is a widespread reason for a chronically obstruction of the nasal respiration. The multitude of methods reflects the challenge for an ideal treatment. A new ultrasound-rasparor for the treatment of cncha hyperplasia by submucosal coagulation is evaluated clinicaly.

Material and Methods: 177 patients (age 12-75), who underwent submuvosal turbinotomy with ultrasound-rasparor (diameter 3 mm), between 2000-2005 were examined preoperatively and 1-3-5 weeks postoperatively by endoscopy and rhynomanometri. 41 patients were examined also 1 year postoperatively. After local anesthesia the ultrasound raspator under endoscopic control is placed submucosally and only the tissue adjacent to the unprotected portion of the raspator undergoes circumscrobed coagulation, using low ultrasound energy. Coagulation takes place at the outer part of the turbinate.

Results: Surgery is performed in local anesthesia. Intra and postoperative pain is extremely low. A shrinkage of the concha could already be observed during the coagulation. During 3 weeks postoperatively 161 of 177 patients showed a reduction of inferior turbinate volume. Most patients felt a major improvement of nasal breathing. 1 year postoperatively 33 of 41 patients showed a marked decrease of inferior turbinate volume.

Conclusions: Submucosal ultrasound-turbinotomy is an efficient and easy to handle alternative to the known standard methods as resection, laser treatment, monopolar or bipolar RF-needle. The adventages can been seen in the safe procedure and the minimal side-effects due to local anesthesia. Overs the 5 year period of treatment there are no recurrences, less complications and better results.